Cambodia · roaming cost calculator
Cambodia eSIM vs Carrier Roaming: Full Cost Breakdown
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eSIM plans for Cambodia: price and coverage data
Airalo partners with Cellcard in Cambodia for 4G LTE access from $1.44/GB. Airmoney cashback returns 5-10% of your spend to use on the next trip.
Get eSIMHolafly delivers the Cambodia eSIM QR code within minutes of payment. The plan activates on Cellcard's 4G LTE network on arrival — no SIM swap, no roaming toggle.
Get eSIMSaily's Cambodia plan partners with Cellcard for 4G LTE access. VPN toggle and eSIM management live in one privacy-focused app — no separate NordVPN install needed.
Get eSIMNomad's per-GB rates are most competitive in Southeast Asia and popular tourist routes. In Cambodia, Cellcard 4G LTE coverage at $1.44/GB is among the lower per-GB rates in the market.
Get eSIMCompare providers: Airalo vs Holafly · Airalo vs Saily · Airalo vs Nomad · Holafly vs Saily · Holafly vs Nomad · Saily vs Nomad
The full picture
Published carrier rates for Cambodia travel data
Every major carrier's published Cambodia rate, side by side, with the eSIM winner highlighted.
| Carrier | Plan type | Daily | 7-day | Speed | Data limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | International Day Pass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| Verizon | TravelPass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| T-Mobile | Magenta (high-speed add-on) | Free*source | $0–105 | 256kbps* | Throttled |
| eSIM · Airalo | 1 GB · 7 days | — | $1.44 | LTE / 5G | 1 GB |
*T-Mobile includes data at 256kbps free; high-speed access is a $5–15/day add-on, shown here as a 7-day range.
Compare all carrier roaming plans to see how AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and EE stack up against eSIM providers.
Pay-per-use cost audit
Cambodia data bill scenarios: AT&T without a day pass
AT&T's international pay-per-use rate is $2.05/MB in Cambodia. Mixed phone use — maps, messaging, and social media — runs about 60 MB/hour. One hour of that: $123. Four hours of normal use: $492. Eight hours, a full day out: $984. A 30-minute Zoom meeting alone adds $922. A 5-minute video call with family costs $154. These are AT&T's published pay-per-use figures. Source: AT&T international rate card, June 2026.
Personalize your savings
How much will you save with an eSIM in Cambodia?
Adjust your trip length, carrier, and data habits to see your exact savings.
Network coverage
Cambodia LTE and 5G coverage breakdown
Metfone is the only mobile network in Cambodia. Every roaming and eSIM connection goes through the same towers. AT&T charges $10/day for that access. An eSIM charges $1.44/GB. The coverage map for AT&T roaming in Cambodia and the coverage map for a travel eSIM are both drawn by Metfone. They are the same map. 4G LTE download and upload speeds are available on Metfone in Cambodia. A carrier roaming pass delivers those speeds. A travel eSIM delivers the same speeds. Paying $10/day does not increase your download speed over the $1.44/GB eSIM rate. Cambodia has none 5G coverage. No commercial 5G Average download speeds reach 20 Mbps on Metfone's network — identical whether you connect through a carrier roaming pass or a travel eSIM.
Pricing breakdown
Carrier rates vs eSIM prices in Cambodia
Here is the 14-day cost breakdown for Cambodia. AT&T International Day Pass: $140. Verizon TravelPass: $140. T-Mobile high-speed add-on: $210 (256 Kbps free tier is too slow for maps or video calls). eSIM 10GB plan on Cellcard: $14.40. That is $125.60 less than AT&T, a 90% reduction for the same 4G LTE connectivity.
T-Mobile's international add-on in Cambodia costs $15/day, the highest daily rate of the three major US carriers. AT&T is $10/day. Verizon is $10/day. An eSIM on Cellcard averages $1.03/day when you buy the 10GB plan upfront.
Choosing the right eSIM tier for Cambodia depends on trip length and daily habits. Available tiers: 1GB at $3.99 ($3.99/GB), 3GB at $7.99 ($2.66/GB), 5GB at $11.49 ($2.30/GB), 10GB at $18.90 ($1.89/GB), 20GB at $28.80 ($1.44/GB). A 1.5 GB/day user on a 14-day trip needs roughly 21GB. The unlimited daily option at $3.66/day works out to $51.24 total.
Trip cost breakdown
Carrier roaming vs eSIM cost in Cambodia by trip length
If you visit Cambodia for 3 days and need 2GB for maps and messaging: AT&T charges $30 ($10/day x 3 days). A 3GB eSIM on Cellcard costs $7.99. You save $22.01.
If you visit for 14 days with 15GB of photos and video calls: AT&T reaches $140 per person. A 20GB eSIM on Cellcard covers the same stay for $28.80 — $111.20 less, a 79% reduction.
If you stay 30 days and need 50GB for video calls and streaming: AT&T totals $300 over the month. A 50GB eSIM on Cellcard costs $72. You save $228 (76%). Rates checked June 2026.
Airport options
SIM card at Phnom Penh (PNH) / Siem Reap (SAI) vs eSIM
Airport kiosks in Cambodia quote SIM card prices before taxes and activation fees. After the counter adds those costs, your final bill is higher than the posted rate. A 1GB eSIM at $3.99 is an all-in price — what you see online is what you pay. No register surprise after a long international flight.
Data planning
7-day Cambodia data budget breakdown
Plan for 1.5 GB of data per day in Cambodia. Navigation, messaging, and photo sharing consume most of it. A 7-day trip needs roughly 11GB.
For a 7-day trip, the 20GB plan at $28.80 covers 11GB at $1.44/GB. AT&T's roaming pass for the same 7 days reaches $70. For heavy data users, unlimited daily plans start at $3.66/day — still cheaper than any carrier roaming pass.
Connectivity
Cambodia WiFi access and cellular backup
Public WiFi networks in Cambodia exist in major cities. Most do not require registration but offer no encryption. For banking apps, work VPNs, and payment authentication, a cellular eSIM connection on Cellcard is the safer path. Plans start at $1.44/GB.
Plan your data
How much data you need in Cambodia
Cellcard provides the cellular infrastructure in Cambodia. AT&T pays Cellcard a wholesale rate for roaming access, then bills you $10/day. Travel eSIM providers also access Cellcard's network and charge $1.44/GB at retail. For a 10-day trip: AT&T $100, eSIM $28.80.
Cambodia has one mobile operator: Metfone. US carriers pay Metfone for roaming access and pass that cost to you at $10/day. An eSIM connects to Metfone directly at $1.44/GB — no carrier markup.
Airport SIM counters at Phnom Penh (PNH) / Siem Reap (SAI) charge $2-5 for 5-20GB / 28 days — still more than a 20GB eSIM at $28.80. Cambodia mobile networks deliver an average 20 Mbps download speed — the same whether you roam on AT&T or connect through a travel eSIM. WiFi in Cambodia is available in hotels and cafes. An eSIM fills the gaps at $1.44/GB instead of AT&T's $10/day roaming charge.
Quick reference
Cambodia Travel Essentials
117/118/119
117, 118, 119 are the emergency numbers in Cambodia. Different numbers may route to different services — save all of them before your trip. Emergency calls work from any mobile device, including travel eSIMs.
Type A/C/G
US plugs (Type A flat two-prong and Type B three-prong) fit Cambodia's outlets directly. No adapter is needed for phones, laptops, or standard US electronics. Voltage is 120V — compatible with dual-voltage US chargers.
ICT (UTC+7)
KHR (៛)
Cards are accepted at hotels, tourist-facing shops, and chain restaurants in Cambodia. Local markets, small vendors, and rural businesses prefer cash. Withdraw KHR at an ATM on arrival — airport ATMs have the same rates as city ATMs.
Quick tip
Prices in Cambodia are in KHR (៛). Buying an eSIM in USD before departure removes the variable of exchange rates affecting your data cost mid-trip.
Good to know
Power sockets in Cambodia are Type A/C/G type. US and UK plugs don't fit without an adapter. A depleted phone ends your eSIM connectivity regardless of remaining data balance.
Step by step
How to add a Cambodia eSIM to your phone
- Check your phone supports eSIM (iPhone XS or newer, most Samsung Galaxy S20+) — LTE coverage is none on Cellcard
- Pick a 1GB Cambodia plan on Airalo for $3.99 — payment takes under two minutes and your QR code arrives instantly. Compare providers if you want to see alternatives first.
- Install the eSIM via the QR code Airalo sends to your email — do this before your flight to Phnom Penh (PNH) / Siem Reap (SAI) so it activates the moment you land
- On iPhone: tap Settings > Cellular, select your carrier SIM (not the Airalo eSIM), tap Cellular Data Options, and set Data Roaming to off. Full instructions with screenshots in the data roaming guide.
- On Samsung Galaxy at Phnom Penh (PNH) / Siem Reap (SAI): open the notification shade, tap the SIM switcher, and select your Airalo eSIM — Cellcard registers automatically
- On Google Pixel: go to Settings > Network > Calls and SMS > WiFi Calling and enable it — your home number stays reachable in Cambodia without any voice roaming charge
Data tips
Cambodia data efficiency guide
Currency converter apps use under 1 MB per session. Bank apps with push notifications use minimal background data. The higher risk is two-factor authentication: your bank may send a code to your home number, which requires cellular reception or call forwarding. Test your bank's 2FA method before traveling to Cambodia.
Regional context
Cambodia and Asia cross-border data costs
A few things to know before turning off carrier roaming in Cambodia:
Cambodia SIM registration: Passport required. A travel eSIM purchased abroad bypasses local SIM registration requirements at the point of sale.
Cambodia uses USD alongside Cambodian riel
Metfone (Viettel) has widest coverage
Incredibly cheap mobile data — under $3 for 15GB
Forgot your eSIM?
Cambodia eSIM installation after arrival: the WiFi route
If you reach Cambodia without an eSIM, your first 30 minutes at the airport determine your data costs. Phnom Penh (PNH) / Siem Reap (SAI)'s arrivals area has free WiFi. Connect immediately — no queue, no counter. From there, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad all support post-arrival eSIM purchases. The process: download the app over WiFi, choose a Cambodia plan, scan the QR code, and activate. A 1GB plan on Cellcard costs $3.99. That is still below AT&T's International Day Pass cost for two days. If airport WiFi drops mid-install, hotel lobby WiFi provides a stable fallback for finishing the process.
Cambodia FAQ
Cambodia eSIM & roaming questions
How much does carrier roaming cost in Cambodia?
AT&T: $10/day ($70/week). Verizon: $10/day ($70/week). T-Mobile: free but throttled to 256 Kbps; high-speed add-on costs $15/day. Travel eSIM on Cellcard: $3.99 for 1GB. All four options route through the same Cellcard towers in Cambodia. The price gap between carrier roaming and eSIM is $70 versus the eSIM rate for a 7-day trip.
Is T-Mobile's free international data fast enough in Cambodia?
No. T-Mobile's free tier in Cambodia runs at 256 Kbps — too slow for GPS navigation, video calls, or any app that loads images. You can send basic text messages and that is about it. The high-speed upgrade costs $15/day, matching AT&T's roaming fee. A travel eSIM on Cellcard provides full 4G LTE speeds at $1.44/GB with no daily activation triggers.
How is my roaming bill calculated in Cambodia?
Relying on hotel WiFi does not prevent roaming charges in Cambodia. AT&T's per-day charge fires from any background cellular contact — your phone does not need an active app, just a brief tower handshake. Per-MB billing at $2.05/MB is even more dangerous with background syncs. T-Mobile's 256 Kbps free tier sidesteps per-day billing but is too slow for apps. A travel eSIM at 1GB for $3.99 gives you full 4G LTE and locks the total cost before you board.
Does unused eSIM data carry over after my trip to Cambodia?
No. Travel eSIM plans for Cambodia do not roll over unused data. If you buy a 5 GB plan and use 3 GB, the remaining 2 GB expires when the plan ends. Carrier roaming plans work the same way — AT&T International Day Pass at $10/day gives you access to your home data allowance but that allowance does not roll forward either. The practical approach: buy a plan size close to your expected usage. On Cellcard's network at $1.44/GB, one size up costs little and prevents running out mid-trip. Rates checked June 2026.
Can I make phone calls using a travel eSIM in Cambodia?
Data-only travel eSIMs — the most common type in Cambodia — do not include voice calls. For calls, use apps over the eSIM's data connection: WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype, and Google Meet all work on Cellcard's 4G LTE network at $1.44/GB. For calls to home contacts using your original number, enable WiFi Calling on your home SIM — it routes through WiFi or the eSIM's data connection for free. AT&T International Day Pass at $10/day includes voice calls as part of your home plan. Voice+data eSIMs for Cambodia add $15-40 over the data-only price. Rates checked June 2026.
Which US carrier has the best roaming deal for Cambodia?
None of the three US carriers offer a genuinely good deal in Cambodia. AT&T: $10/day. Verizon: $10/day. T-Mobile: free at 256 Kbps (unusable for navigation), $15/day for full speed. A travel eSIM on Cellcard starts at $1.44/GB — a 7-day trip at average usage costs $15.12 versus $70 for AT&T. No carrier matches the eSIM on per-GB cost.
How much does a week of data in Cambodia cost with each US carrier?
AT&T International Day Pass: $70 for 7 days. Verizon TravelPass: $70. T-Mobile high-speed add-on: $105. T-Mobile free tier: $0 but throttled to 256 Kbps (not usable). A travel eSIM on Cellcard: roughly $15.12 for 7 days at 1.5 GB/day average usage. The eSIM is 80-90% cheaper than any paid carrier option.
Do local apps in Cambodia require a local SIM or does an eSIM work?
Most local apps in Cambodia — ride-hailing, food delivery, transit — do not require a local SIM number to function. They require only a data connection, which a travel eSIM provides at $1.44/GB on Cellcard's 4G LTE network. Some banking and two-factor authentication apps require a local phone number for SMS verification. For those cases, keep your home SIM active alongside the eSIM — your home number handles SMS while the eSIM handles data.
Is one eSIM enough for a multi-country Asia trip that includes Cambodia?
Multi-country Asia eSIM plans exist and cover many combinations — Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and others in a single data bucket. AT&T and Verizon charge $10/day in each country separately, so a 3-country trip at 3 days each costs $90. A regional Asia eSIM for the same 9 days runs $15-$40 total. Check plan coverage maps — Cambodia may be included in a regional plan, or you may need a Cambodia-specific plan plus a regional one.
How much does carrier roaming cost for a week in Cambodia?
AT&T: $70/week (International Day Pass at $10/day). Verizon: $70/week (TravelPass). T-Mobile: free at 256 Kbps or $105/week for usable speed. The cheapest eSIM for Cambodia starts at $1.44/GB on Cellcard's 4G LTE network — better per-GB value than all three carriers.
Fact check
Debunking carrier roaming claims for Cambodia
You need to unlock your phone to use an eSIM
eSIM installation does not require an unlocked phone in most cases. iPhones sold in the US since iPhone 14 are sold unlocked by law. iPhones XS through 13 require unlocking to add a foreign carrier eSIM, but AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all offer free unlocking after your contract ends. Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer models support eSIM on both locked and unlocked variants. Check your carrier's unlock policy before your trip to Cambodia.
Roaming charges only apply to data
US carrier international plans charge separately for data, calls, and texts. AT&T's International Day Pass at $12/day includes data but charges $0.25–$1.50/minute for calls beyond the bundled allocation. Incoming voicemail retrieval can trigger per-minute roaming charges even when you make no outgoing calls. A data-only eSIM in Cambodia at $3.99 covers data and uses WhatsApp or FaceTime for voice at no additional carrier cost. Rates checked June 2026.
EU roaming is free for Americans
EU roaming-within-the-EU rules apply only to SIM cards issued by EU-based carriers. AT&T and Verizon are US carriers — they charge full international day pass rates in every EU country. AT&T's International Day Pass runs $12/day in EU destinations. Verizon TravelPass is $10/day. A travel eSIM on Cellcard covers Cambodia for $3.99 total. Rates checked June 2026.
Our recommendation
Final Cambodia data cost breakdown
If you want the most straightforward option for Cambodia, go with Holafly. Holafly's unlimited plan runs on Cellcard in Cambodia at $3.66/day with no data cap. For trips longer than 5 days, unlimited data removes the guesswork of picking the right GB tier. Streaming, video calls, and tethering all work without watching a usage meter. Airalo is the pick if you use less than 2 GB/day — a 1GB plan at $3.99 costs less for light users.
AT&T charges $10/day in Cambodia. An eSIM costs $1.44.
AT&T bills $10/day the moment your phone connects abroad. An eSIM charges one flat fee of $1.44 for the whole trip.
Get a Cambodia eSIM